Aaron's letter 2-16-09

Hey Everyone!!
Well another week gone by and I am still chugging along at this third language
thing!!
A little bit about the Brazillians....
they love meat! We have a freezer drawer full of meat and my Brazillian comp
loves to cook it and I love to endulge him by eating it! They are such a loving
people and the best to work with! I now feel like I am serving in the Brazil
mission until I go to english class or church! haha, it is way fun and I am just
tryin hard to be able to say a little bit!
The area is still pretty big and yesterday we rode for over an hour up and down
the mountainy highway to visit an investigator family and drop off a gift to
them. Way fun day and it just shows us even more that there are areas yet
unventured ready to be worked!
So now for an experience...
Yesterday during personal study I read the talk *The Quest for Joy* by Barbara
Workman and after felt like is should go and say a prayer. So, I went into the
kitchen and did so. I felt to thank Heavenly Father for all the joy and
different experiences He has given me up to now and for the great help He has
also provided. As I read the story, I had intended to seek forgiveness for
downfalls, but as I began to pray I was just urged to gratitude for past joy and
excitement for future experiences!
The reason this experiecne really hit home to me was because it again testified
to me that Heavenly Father really knows each of us. He hears our prayers and
guides us in our pursuits of a happy life.
In my case He helped me realize the many blessing I am currently endowed with
(including my AWESOME FAMILY)! And through that experience I realized there is
so much to be grateful for and truly never a reason to be down in the dumps. Of
course we all make mistakes and need to seek to be better and improve. But
honestly, Heavenly Father knows our hearts and is waiting to fill them with joy.
The Church is completely true and I know it with all my heart! I hope you all
can feel a portion of this joy that us missionaries get to feel all the time!
Always remember you have a Father up in Heaven who is waiting to help once you
open your heart to Him!
I love you!
Elder Parks